Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of The Nebraska Department Of Transportation Winter Severity Index – Phase Ii, Mark Anderson, Curtis L. Walker, Thomas Kauzlarich

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

For the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), the Nebraska Winter Severity Index (NEWINS) provided an independent framework to calculate a winter season’s severity by categorizing individual winter storms. However, one of the greatest limitations of NEWINS is that it is not predictive. Thus, this study builds on the previously developed NEWINS by creating a predictive winter storm severity index known as NEWINS-Predictive (NEWINS-P). The quantitative precipitation forecast, snow accumulation, ice accumulation, and surface wind speed parameters from the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) are used to develop the five components composing the NEWINS-P framework. These components consist of snow severity …

Production, Utilization And Quality Of Irrigated Grasses And Legumes In The Mountain West Usa Under Mob Stocking Or Clipping, Jennifer W. Macadam, Brody Maughan, Xin Dai

Browse all Datasets

Feed is the most costly input for US ruminant livestock production systems, and increasing the utilization efficiency of irrigated forage systems can improve system profitability. This study assessed the production, utilization and quality of 22 intensively managed perennial grasses and legumes. Forages were cultivated as monocultures under irrigation and subjected to similarly intense clipping or mob stocking for two years at six-week intervals between May and September. Grasses and legumes were randomly assigned to 22 adjacent 1.5-m-wide by 9-m-long subplots within each whole plot, and pairs of whole plots were randomly assigned to grazing or clipping management. Seven grasses did …

2024 May 30 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Volatility, Composition, And Gas-Particle Phase Partitioning Of Atmospheric Organic Compounds Through Novel Instrumentation And Techniques, Karolina Cysneiros De Carvalho

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Atmospheric aerosols are ubiquitous indoors and outdoors and their impact on human life on Earth is extensive. Aerosol particles scatter and absorb solar radiation, are key in the formation of clouds and precipitation, and can affect the abundance and distribution of greenhouse and atmospheric trace gases by physicochemical multiphase processes, thus they play an important role in regulating regional and global climate. On the other hand, poor indoor and outdoor air quality associated with high particulate matter (PM) levels is among the leading health risks worldwide, affecting life quality and expectancy by increasing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory …

Entertainment-Education And Climate Change: Program Examples, Evidence, And Best Practices From Around The World, Suruchi Sood, Amy Henderson Riley, Lyena Birkenstock

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Entertainment-education is a global theory-driven and evidence-based storytelling strategy that promotes social and behavioral change. A formal review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature, alongside consultations with program and industry experts, revealed several contemporary examples of entertainment-education and climate change. Late-night comedy, with the inclusion of climate change storylines within popular entertainment, is common in the Global North. In the Global South, climate adaptation and mitigation narratives are situated in formats portraying audiences’ lived experiences. Crosscutting trends relate to documentary storytelling, children’s programming, and future efforts. Recommendations include re-examining theories across the social-ecological model; placing entertainment front and center; including …

2024 May 23 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Operation Shark: Addressing The Negative Portrayal Of Sharks In Media, Michael R. O'Shea

Masters Theses

Sharks are some of the most well adapted and effective animals in the animal kingdom. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most feared. For many people the word shark evokes images of vicious attacks like those seen in movies such as Jaws. Sharks have also been negatively portrayed in the media. This negative portrayal of sharks has led to misconceptions about sharks that have damaged their populations. Efforts have been made to raise awareness and fight common misconceptions of sharks. However, many people still hold on to the incorrect ideas they have about sharks. This thesis will examine the …

Atmospheric Circulation, Climate Change, And Related Impacts Over The Western United States, Graham Patrick Taylor

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation characterizes the range of atmospheric circulation patterns and select associated meteorology impacting the northwest United States, the onset timing of rain and wind relevant to wildfire across the western United States, and how these may respond to global warming. The ability of a suite of models contributing to the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to simulate observed large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns over the Pacific Northwest of North America is evaluated. Climate model projections of atmospheric circulation patterns, their frequency, and associated temperature and precipitation anomalies under a high-end global warming scenario are assessed over …

Exploring Microplastic Concentrations And The Sedimentology Of San Diego's Offshore Benthic Environments, Rachel Sarner

Theses

Marine pollution studies are showing infiltration of plastic debris in remote parts of oceans including the deep sea. Microplastics (MPs) are being discovered not only in the ocean’s water column but also benthic sediments reaching thousands of meters in depth. This is the first study to analyze MP concentrations in conjunction with sedimentary characteristics from varying deep-sea environments (coastal, deep ocean, offshore terrace) in the Southern California Continental Borderland (CCB). Our goal for this study was to observe how the concentration and type (morphology, color, size) of microplastics varied with distance from shore, with water depth, and between different submarine …

Abundance, Distribution, And Diversity Of The Paralarval Cephalopod Community In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Shannon Leah Riley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The abundance, distribution, and diversity of cephalopod paralarvae from the upper water column (0-130 meters) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) was studied using samples collected during six ichthyoplankton surveys between 2009 and 2012. A total of 2240 cephalopod paralarvae belonging to 21 families were examined. Octopodidae, Enoploteuthidae, and Ommastrephidae were the most abundant taxa collected in the time series. Five taxa had significantly different abundances between some sampling periods, while no significant differences in abundance occurred between any GOM regions (northwest GOM shelf, north-central GOM shelf, West Florida Shelf, GOM slope, and GOM basin). The majority of taxa …

Elevating Urban Landscapes: How Green Roofs Enhance Biodiversity And Address Climate Change In California, Jeffrey R. Beaudoin

Master's Projects and Capstones

Green roofs are increasingly valued for mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect, providing thermal comfort amidst rising temperatures of climate change, enhancing hydrological properties, and improving urban biodiversity. In this report, I explore the environmental benefits and practical challenges of green roofs, with a specific focus on California. My study evaluates the effectiveness of green roofs in enhancing environmental sustainability using a weighted rating system. I categorize the benefits of green roofs into key areas: thermal performance, stormwater management, ecological support, mental health benefits, noise reduction, air quality improvement, and water quality enhancement. Green roofs have shown the potential for …

2024 May 16 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Conceptualising And Enacting Pathways To Transformative Climate Justice: Examples From The Philippines, Justin See, Anne Shangrila Fuentes, Emma Porio, Brooke Wilmsen

Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications

Scholarship on climate change adaptation is increasingly moving from incremental responses to climate injustice towards transformative approaches that deliberately change systems to achieve just and equitable outcomes. A transformative understanding of climate justice is relatively new and evidence of how this could be achieved is in its infancy. In this paper, we conceptualise transformative climate justice as comprised of three subcomponents: (1) inclusive justice (seeking to ensure that no one, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind), (2) epistemological justice (drawing upon diverse knowledges and worldviews), and (3) restorative justice (healing and restoration of communities and the environment). We then …

Generating Channel Morphology Data Through Arcgis Pro, Ethan Manigbas

Symposium of Student Scholars

River cross-sections are often extracted using field surveys at measured intervals. This field-oriented approach allows for a tangible relationship between the data and its collector but at the expense of finance, time, labor, and potentially the environment. With the advancement of geospatial tools, such data can be found online, extracted, and even analyzed with contemporary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in a completely virtual setting, transcending the need for fieldwork in select project topics. We tested this approach with the help of ArcGIS Pro software on the Vishnu Springs headwater stream located in the Western Illinois region of the Upper Mississippi …

Relative Influence Of Sea State And Mean, Turbulent, And Heterogenous Refractivity On X-Band Propagation, Douglas M. Pastore, Erin E. Hackett

Marine Science

In predicting electromagnetic wave propagation within the marine atmospheric surface layer, it is common to assume steady homogenous conditions. However, discrepancies between predicted and measured propagation remain, which could be due in-part to turbulent fluctuations of the refractive index, spatially heterogenous evaporative ducting environments, and mischaracterization of the rough ocean bottom boundary. To better understand the relative importance of these contributors, this study explores the sensitivity of X-band propagation to parameters describing sea-state conditions and refractive environments, including turbulent fluctuations and spatially heterogenous conditions. This study employs the extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test to compute sensitivity indices that evaluate the …

2024 May 9 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Multiscale Variability Of Heavy Metals In A Western U.S. Snowpack, Kelsey Hefner

Student Research Symposium

Natural and anthropogenically sourced particulates are deposited from the atmosphere to landscapes via dry and wet deposition, making frozen winter snowpack a natural archive of atmospheric elemental composition. Wildfires in the Western United States are increasing in extent, duration, and severity, especially in alpine regions. Severe fires remove forest canopy and can impact how atmospheric elements are dispersed and stored across snow-dominated watersheds. We evaluated Al, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, Zn, Se, Mo, Cd, and Pb concentrations in 394 winter snow core samples. We collected samples in 2019 and 2020 from a chronosequence of eight forests that burned …

Heavy Steers And Heifers Run At Low Stocking Rates Enhance Drought Resilience In A Pastoral Region Of Australia, Christophe D'Abbadie, Ross Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe, Bradley Plunkett, Alan Peggs

Animal production and livestock research articles

CONTEXT

The semi-arid mulga lands of the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia experience frequent droughts. Maintaining a profitable animal grazing enterprise whilst preserving rangeland condition requires selecting an appropriate stocking rate and herd structure.

OBJECTIVE

We construct and apply bioeconomic models of beef enterprises for the semi-arid Southern Rangelands of Western Australia, to assess the profitability and relative riskiness of three different livestock production systems and three different stocking rates when exposed to different frequencies of drought.

METHODS

We construct bio-economic models of herd structures that separately focus on producing either: (i) 200 kg heifers and 210 kg steers (ii) …

Effects Of Urbanization On Eutrophication Parameters In Three Tidal Creeks, Ella Swantek

Honors Theses

Marshes and swashes are vital environments as a controlling barrier between land affected by various pollutants and the ocean. Eutrophication and the effects of this process can be detrimental for the areas experiencing it. I am interested in ways areas that have little contact with human interactions compare to areas that are heavily urbanized, and whether either of these locations is at a higher risk for eutrophication. Using spectrophotometry and fluorometry, I analyzed samples collected from the relatively undeveloped and restricted-access locations of Waities Island Beach and Dunn Sound monthly for dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll. At the time of sampling, …

Impacts Of Hurricane Idalia’S Surge On Coastal Sand Biogeochemistry, Wendy "Cor" Mchone

Honors Theses

Beaches are heavily influenced by extreme events, such as hurricanes. Biological and chemical processes, such as primary production and diagenesis are often interrupted by these events. To examine the effects of hurricanes on coastal biogeochemistry, this study used sand and porewater samples from Waties Island, SC, which were collected before and after Hurricane Idalia. The samples were analyzed for macronutrient concentrations, organic content, and chlorophyll concentrations. Macronutrient pore water concentration changes were not uniform. The inventory of nitrite decreased significantly after the storm, which was reflected in slight increases in the inventories of nitrate and ammonium. Concentrations of nitrate, which …

Sedimentary Conditions At A Tidal Creek That Exhibits Seasonal Pelagic-Benthic Variations, Jack B. Corbin

Honors Theses

Tidal creeks in the Grand Strand of South Carolina are small but numerous connectors between land and ocean. One of these creeks, White Point Swash, exhibits a seasonal switch between planktonic and benthic photosynthesizers. As plankton become less abundant in fall, benthic macroalgae bloom, aided by lower water levels due to fall-winter dredging of the main channel, until late Spring. This study builds on previous findings and examines sedimentary conditions at this site further. Sedimentary chlorophyll a (in microphytobenthos) and pore water nutrient concentrations are confirmed to be higher than water-column concentrations. Sedimentary nutrient fluxes to the sediment-water interface, calculated …

Identifying High-Value Tactical Livestock Decisions On A Mixed Enterprise Farm In A Variable Environment, Michael Young, John Young, Ross S. Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe

Animal production and livestock research articles

Context

Australia is renowned for its climate variation, featuring years with drought and years with floods, which result in significant production and profit variability. Accordingly, to maximise profitability, dryland farming systems need to be dynamically managed in response to unfolding weather conditions.

Aims

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify optimal tactical livestock management for different weather-years.

Methods

This study employed a whole-farm optimisation model to analyse a representative mixed enterprise farm located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Using this model, we investigated the economic significance of five key livestock management tactics. These included …

Glacier Lake Inventory And Lake Outburst Flood Hazard Assessment In Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal, Prabish Khadka Chhetri

Theses

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of glacial lakes and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) from 2010 to 2023. The KCA holds significant ecological importance, serving as a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, while also playing a vital role in regional hydrological systems. Additionally, its stunning landscapes attract tourists and mountaineers from around the world, further emphasizing the need for understanding environmental changes within the area. Utilizing medium to high-resolution satellite imagery from PlanetScope for glacial mapping and Landsat for LST analysis, the research aimed to achieve two primary objectives: creating an …

Quantification Of Surface Layer Turbulence Using Sensible Heat Values From Energy Balance Versus Aerodynamic Methods, Steven T. Fiorino, Yogendra Raut, Jaclyn Schmidt, Laura Slabaugh, Blaine Fourman, Jack E. Mccrae, Benjamin C. Wilson, Santasri R. Bose-Pillai

Faculty Publications

Surface layer optical turbulence values in the form of the refractive index structure function C_n^2 are often calculated from surface layer temperature, moisture, and wind characteristics and compared to measurements from sonic anemometers, differential temperature sensors, and imaging systems. A key derived component needed in the surface layer turbulence calculations is the sensible heat value. Typically, the sensible heat is calculated using the bulk aerodynamic method that assumes a certain surface roughness and a friction velocity that approximates the turbulence drag on temperature and moisture mixing from the change in the average surface layer vertical wind velocity. These assumptions/approximations generally …

2024 May 2 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Including Methane Emissions From Agricultural Ponds In National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Martino E. Malerba, Tertius De Kluyver, Nicholas J. Wright, Odebiri Omosalewa, Peter I. Macreadie

Climate Science Research Articles

Agricultural ponds are a significant source of greenhouse gases, contributing to the ongoing challenge of anthropogenic climate change. Nations are encouraged to account for these emissions in their national greenhouse gas inventory reports. We present a remote sensing approach using open-access satellite imagery to estimate total methane emissions from agricultural ponds that account for (1) monthly fluctuations in the surface area of individual ponds, (2) rates of historical accumulation of agricultural ponds, and (3) the temperature dependence of methane emissions. As a case study, we used this method to inform the 2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports submitted by the …

Opportunities For Urban Resilience To Climate Change: Understanding Local Climate Perceptions, Motivations, And Barriers To Green Infrastructure Use, Emmilene Berski

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Global climate change poses a substantial threat to cities in the United States, particularly through increases in flooding and extreme heat. Cities must adapt to these threats to preserve their residents’ livelihoods and prevent economic loss. One adaptation strategy is the implementation of green infrastructure (GI). The opportunity for GI to foster urban resilience to climate change necessitates a deeper understanding of the extent to which cities utilize GI as a strategy for local climate change adaptation as well as perceptions and motivations surrounding the use of GI at a local level. I sought to address this need through a …

Changes In Zooplankton Community Structure In A Wetland Metacommunity Following Homogenization From Flooding, Kevin Peteroy

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Wetlands in urban areas provide ecosystem services that benefit the environment and society. Through these services, wetlands are able to help mitigate consequences of human activities such as flooding by increasing permeable surface coverage and contaminant filtering from polluted runoff. One such type of wetland, vernal pools, provide important temporary habitat for many organisms, including myriad zooplankton species. For planktonic organisms, flooding events might be disruptive or allow them to disperse to areas that would be otherwise inaccessible. I observed changing abiotic conditions and zooplankton communities in 20 vernal pools at a wetland in Wayne, New Jersey, USA over a …

Relationship Between Marine Heatwaves And Diadema Antillarum Settlement In The Florida Keys, David Ogando Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Ocean warming can have profound impacts on benthic marine invertebrates through direct physiological effects. Yet, the impacts of ocean warming on the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum), a keystone grazer on western Atlantic and Caribbean coral reefs, has received little attention. In the summer of 2023, the Caribbean basin experienced a strong marine heatwave event with sea temperatures ~1–3°C above average and the warmest on record in southern Florida. An ongoing field settlement sampling program for D. antillarum in the Florida Keys provided an opportunity to examine the correlative relationship between thermal exposure and larval settlement. Thermal exposure was quantified …

A Multi-Century Reconstruction Of Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity, And Density From A Northern Red Sea Coral., Daliza Nanette Rivera-Matos

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Red Sea Outflow Water (RSOW), an intermediate water mass formed in the northern Red Sea, is a primary Red Sea water circulation process. Understanding these water circulation processes gives us an insight into this region's climate dynamics. The intermediate water formation is one of the main processes of the water circulation in the northern Red Sea and feeds the Indian Ocean with saltier and colder water. Despite understanding the RSWO's association with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), its historical response to this climate mode remains unclear. There has not been a long-term record to analyze the relationship between the …